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Autofluorescence spectroscopy as a proxy for chronic white matter pathology
Megan L Morgan1, Deepak K Kaushik1, Peter K Stys1
1Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|August 12, 2020
Summary
Tissue autofluorescence can reveal hidden white matter damage in chronic neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS). This technique detects insidious injury even when repair mechanisms mask ongoing pathology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pathology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Chronic neurological disorders, such as progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), are characterized by a complex interplay of tissue injury and repair.
- Detecting the full extent of pathology in MS can be challenging, especially when damage is subtle or masked by regenerative processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate tissue autofluorescence as a potential surrogate marker for white matter injury.
- To determine if autofluorescence can identify insidious damage in chronic neurological conditions.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of tissue autofluorescence in autopsied specimens (experimental and clinical) using spectral confocal microscopy.
- Correlation of autofluorescence patterns with histopathological assessments of lesion severity and chronicity.
Main Results:
- Progressive accumulation of autofluorescent deposits observed in white matter regions with prior demyelination, even after remyelination.
- Autofluorescence signal intensity was proportional to lesion severity and changed over time, suggesting it reflects myelin debris.
- Similar autofluorescent features were identified in autopsied multiple sclerosis (MS) tissue.
Conclusions:
- Autofluorescence spectroscopy can illuminate both past and ongoing white matter injury.
- The findings provide proof-of-concept that autofluorescence can detect insidious damage masked by repair, a phenomenon potentially crucial in progressive MS.
